Aerial illuminating device for use in connection with aircraft.



H. E. S. HOLT.

AERIAL ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31 I914.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

similar materials which are inclosed in the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD EDWARD SHERWIN HOLT, O15 FABNIBOROUGH, COUNTY OF HANTS, ENGLAND.

AERIAL ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD EDWARD SEER WIN HOLT, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain and Ireland, residing at The Grange, Farnborough,Hampshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAerial Illuminating Devices for weight and a parachute reflectorattached to same.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved means forcarrying the illuminating device on and discharging same from aircraft.

Another object is to prevent the weight from doing any damage in fallingto the ground, and a further object is to provide a compact combinationofweight and flare."

With the above. objects in view my invention consists in housing theilluminating device in a vertically arranged tube provided with meansfor automatically igniting the same as it is discharged from the tube,in forming the weight of materials which are capable of being easilydispersed or scattered and in inclosing the said materials in acontainer so arranged that they can fall out freely when the flare isconsumed.

In carrying out the invention the illuminating device is normallysupported in the tube by a ringor the like connected by an igniter tothe flare and having a sliding engagement with a bar arranged inside thetube, the sliding ring being normally held at the upper end of the barby a trip device which when released allows the illuminating device tofalluntil the ring stops at the lower end of the bar and so breaks theigniter and starts the fuse. Instead of the ring traveling on the bar,the bar may be dlspensed with and a second piece of flexible cord of thedesired length be attached to the igniter which determines the distanceat which the igniter is pulled ofl.

The weight is composed of small shot, sand, iron filings or a mixture ofthese or Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed August 81, 1914. Serial No. 859,568.'

top of the case containing the combustible material forming the flare,and kept in position by the said combustible material or by a partitionof paper, celluloid, or other inflammable material interposed betweenthe flare material and the weight, so that when the flare is burnt outthe material forming the weight is released and is dispersed in fallingso that no damage is, done. If desired, a piece of cork or a hollowmetal vessel can be attached to the flare so that it floats in anupright position when it reaches the water.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sect1on of thedischarge tube with the illuminating device arranged therein, Fig. 2 isa transverse section through ww Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an elevationpartly in section showing the weight and flare on a larger scale.

As shown, the illuminating device com prises a flexible parachute awhich is formed a on its underside as a reflector by covering it withmetal foil, a combined weight and flare b a time fuse c and an igniterd.

The discharging apparatus consists of an aluminium tube 6 having astrengthening rib f arranged along its length an mounted vertically onthe aerial machine and extending downward about eight or ten feettherefrom. Inside the tube is provided a vertical rod 9 arrangedparallel to the side at a small distance therefrom and secured to thetube at its lower end. The rod extends practically. the length of thetube and is steadied by a short angular arm h arranged at the upper endof the tube e to meet the rod 9 and having a sliding collar i providedto efiec't a connection with the rod 9.

Near the upper end of the discharge tube e I provide means forsuspending the illuminating device comprising a lever j having a forkedend is normally embracing the rod 9 but which can be withdrawn againstthe action of the spring Z, to efi'ect the release of a suspending ringm which slides on the rod 9 and is attached to the igniter d by suitablecords.

The illuminating device is normally housed within the upper end of thetube 6 and is supported by the ring m which is slipped over the free endof the rod g. When it is .desired to make useof the illuminating devicethe lever j is pressed which allows the illuminating device and itsfittings to fall freely until the ring m reaches the lower end of therod 9 when the weight and flare b cause the igniter to break and startthe time fuse. By this arrangement the premature ignition of the flarebefore the device leaves the aircraft is avoided.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 the materials 6 forming the weight and thematerials 6 of the flare are inclosed in the same casing b and separatedby a thin partition 6 of inflammable material which readily burns awaywhen the flare is consumed to release the materials forming the weight.In some cases the partition I) is dispensed with, the ma terials b ofthe weight resting on the flare material 6 If the flare is burnt upsidedown or the flare material is arranged above the weight, a portion ofthe casing b is made inflammable to enable the shot, sand, 'or the liketo fall out. For, this purpose, a portion of the lower part of thecasing is made of celluloid. Portions of the casing may also be madewith holes covered with thin paper or strips to allow the flames tospread outward.

In order that the weight of ballast may be varied a small hole b isformed in the end of the case b through which the Shot, sand or the likein the case can be added to or a portion abstracted, the hole beingprovided with a suitable cover.

The igniter d for the time fuse c preferably consists of a frictiondevice comprising two cardboard tubes arranged one inside the other andboth coated on adjacent surfaces with fine sand and a fulminatingmaterial, so that when the tubes are pulled apart the fulminate isignited and ignites the time fuse which is connected to the outer tube.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention 1 and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declarethat What I claim is:

1. An aerial illuminating device having means for discharging the samefrom an air craft comprising a tube, an illuminating body provided\vitha time fuse, weight and flare and disposed in said tube, an igniterattached to the fuse and adapted to be operated by a direct pullthereon, and coopcrating means connected with said tube and iguitcr forimparting a direct pull to the iguiter when the weight and other partsare discharged from the tube.

2. An aerial illuminating device comprising a vertically arranged tube,an illuminating body provided with a time fuse, weight and parachutereflector normally housed in said tube, a stop disposed within said tubewith which the time fuse, weight and illuminating body are engaged. anignitcr attached to the fuse and adapted to be oper--- ated by a directpull thereon, and means for imparting a direct pull to the igniter whenthe weight. and other parts are discharged from the tube.

3. An aerial illuminating device comprising a vertically arranged tube,an illuminating body provided with a time fuse, weight and parachutereflector normally housed in said tube, a rod disposed within said tubeand connected with the time fuse, weight and illuminating body, anigniter attached to the fuse, a ring attached to the igniter andslidably connected with said rod, means for 'imparting'a direct pull onsaid igniter' when the weight and other parts are discharged from thetube whereby said igniter is actuated.

4. An aerial illuminating device having means for discharging the samefrom an air craft comprising a tube, an illuminating body provided witha time fuse, weight and flare and supported in said tube, an igniterattached to the fuse and adapted to be operated by a direct pullthereon, means for imparting a direct pull to the igniter when theweight and other parts are discharged from the tube, and means forreleasing said supporting means under the control of the operator.

5. An aerial illuminating device having means fondischarging the samefrom an air craft comprising a tube, an illuminating body provided witha time fuse, weight and flare and disposed in said tube, an igniterattached to the fuse and adapted to be operated by a direct pullthereon, and means for imparting a direct pull to the igniter when theweight and other parts are discharged from the tube, said weight beingformed of mate rials which are capable of being readily dispersed, saidweight being so combined\ with the illuminating body that it is readilyreleased by the burning of the flare.

6. An aerial illuminating device having means for discharging the samefrom an an craft comprising a tube, an illuminating body provided with atime fuse, weight and flare and disposed in said tube, an igniterattached to the fuse and adapted to be operated by a direct pullthereon, means for nnpartmg a direct pull to the igniter when the weightand other parts are discharged from the tube, said weight consisting ofreadily dispel'sible material and arranged next to the flare material,being so disposed that the weight material is released when the flare isburned out.

7. An aerial illuminating device comprising a tubular member open atboth ends, a guide secured to the inner face of one side wall thereof,an illuminating body mounted in said tube and provided with a time fuse,weight and flare, an igniter attached to said fuse, an element connectedwith said igniter and slidably engaged with siid guide, a

5 gagement with said element for releasing the spring pressed leyermounted on said tube direct pull is exerted on the igniter for operandhaving an arm extending into the tube ating it. and engaged with saidguide engaging ele- In testirnony whereof I have aflixed my ment, saidam being movable out of ensignature,1nprwenceof two witnesses.

- HAROLD EDWARD SHEBWIN 110M.

illuminating body, said guide having a, stop Witnesses: I

' osed at a predetermined point in said A, Nesn, y for engaging saidelement whereby a DAVID Com.

